Product Manager / Mission-Critical Hardware & Software / Hybrid / Chicago or San Francisco

Product Manager

Hybrid - San Francisco or Chicago | Full-Time

A Series A startup that builds satellite-powered communication technology that keeps military, emergency response, and public safety teams connected in the world's most austere environments—from the Arctic to the Indo-Pacific is looking for a PM to own their integral product line. As a Product Manager for their Core product line (Hotspot, Node, mobile apps, and web platform), you'll own the product vision and execution for off-grid situational awareness tools trusted by operators when connectivity and seconds matter most. This role requires technical fluency across hardware, firmware, mobile, web, and backend—you'll be the strategic bridge between elite field teams and a full-stack engineering organization. Travel required for field deployments, exercises, and customer engagement.

This isn't your typical PM role managing a SaaS dashboard. You'll build products that literally save lives. The #1 thing that makes this special? Direct access to some of the world's most elite operators—Special Forces, first responders, search and rescue teams—who depend on your product when everything else fails. They’re looking for a senior PM who can operate at the intersection of deep technical complexity (juggling firmware, mobile, backend, and web simultaneously) and genuine operator empathy. You need to understand what it's like to be task-loaded in a high-pressure environment where communication failure isn't an inconvenience—it's life-threatening. Expect high visibility, direct collaboration with leadership, opportunities to travel to field exercises and deployment sites, and the chance to shape critical infrastructure for defense and public safety. Bonus points if you know the TAK (Team Awareness Kit) ecosystem, but what matters most is that you can earn the trust of operators and translate their needs into crisp technical requirements that engineering can execute on. This is a mission-driven role with tangible impact.

Required Skills & Experience

• 5+ years of product management experience, ideally in hardware-software integrated products or defense/public safety technology

• Proven track record managing complex, multi-disciplinary product development in startup or fast-paced environments

• Technical fluency to communicate effectively with engineers across firmware, mobile, web, and backend teams

• Strong organizational skills with experience managing parallel workstreams and cross-functional stakeholders

• Demonstrated ability to translate ambiguous customer needs into clear product requirements and roadmaps

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills—you'll be the voice of the customer internally and the face of product externally

• U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident (clearance requirement)

Desired Skills & Experience

• Experience with government-funded R&D programs (SBIR, APFIT, CRADA, OTA, etc.) including proposal development and milestone management

• Familiarity with TAK (Team Awareness Kit) ecosystem, ATAK, or military situational awareness platforms

• Background in defense, public safety, emergency response, or adjacent mission-critical industries

• Prior experience with satellite communications, IoT hardware, or off-grid connectivity solutions

• Direct exposure to operator workflows in military, first responder, or tactical environments

• Experience shipping hardware products with companion mobile/web applications

What You Will Be Doing

Tech Breakdown

• 40% Cross-Stack Product Strategy (coordinating across hardware, firmware, mobile, web, backend)

• 30% Customer & Field Engagement (embedding with operators, travel to exercises/deployments)

• 30% Program Management (government R&D programs, roadmap execution, stakeholder alignment)

Daily Responsibilities

• 50% Product Strategy & Execution (roadmap planning, requirements definition, feature prioritization)

• 30% Cross-Functional Collaboration (engineering, GTM, operations, leadership alignment)

• 20% Customer Engagement & Field Work (user research, feedback loops, on-site deployments, travel to key events)

The Offer

Competitive base salary + equity in a mission-driven company

You will receive the following benefits:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

• Equity/Stock Options in a high-growth defense tech startup

• Flexible PTO policy

• Hybrid work arrangement (San Francisco office-based with flexibility)

• Opportunities to travel and work directly with elite military and public safety teams

• Direct impact on product strategy with high leadership visibility

• Professional development budget for conferences, training, and clearance sponsorship if needed

Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents. This role involves travel (approximately 10-20% depending on deployment cycles and program milestones).